Inflatable boat cover, for pneumatic boats, suitable to allow the boat to be towed in its capsized position

ABSTRACT

An inflatable boat cover, for pneumatic boats, suitable to allow the boat to be towed in its capsized position consisting of a sheet of waterproof and flexible material, watertight fixed throughout the edge of the inner recess of the boat, inflatable so as to form an auxiliary upper keel and to prevent the water from entering into the boat recess.

United States Patent 1 1 Dusmet 1 July 31, 1973 [5 INFLATABLE BOAT COVER, FOR [56] References Cited PNEUMATIC BOATS, SUITABLE TO UNITED STATES PATENTS ALLOW THE BOAT To BE TOWED IN ITS 2,908,919 10 1959 Bicknell et al 9/4 R (:APsIzIsn POSITION 3,419,926 1/1969 Magin "1. 9 2 A Inventor: Giacomo Dusmet, NO. 50

Lungotevere degli lnventori, Rome, Italy Filed: July 19, 1971 Appl. No.: 163,686

Foreign Application Priority Data 9/30, 11, ll A,3

l Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Carl A. Rutledge Attorney-Eric H. Waters, John G. Schwartz et a];

[5 7 ABSTRACT An inflatable boat cover, for pneumatic boats, suitable to allow the boat to be towed in its capsized position consisting of a sheet of waterproof and flexible material, watertight fixed throughout the edge of the inner recess of the boat, inflatable so as to form an auxiliary upper keel and to prevent the water from entering into the boat recess.

8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU M31 3-. 748.671

sum 1 pr 3 PAIENIEU JUL 3 1 191a SHEET 3 OF 3 INFLATABLE BOAT COVER, FOR PNEUMATIC BOATS, SUITABLE TO ALLOW THE BOAT TO BE TOWED IN ITS CAPSIZED POSITION The present invention relates to an inflatable boat cover for pneumatic boats, suitable to allow a boat of this kind to be towed also in capsized position.

As it is known, many pleasure vessels (yachts, motor cruisers, etc.) are provided with a service dinghy, generally a pneumatic boat, which is towed. It occurs, however, often, that due to the speed of the towing vessel or by the wave movement, the boat will capsize, loosing stability and creating thus easily intelligible drawbacks.

The purpose of this invention is that of solving the above cited problem by an inflatable auxiliary keel which will be arranged on the upper part of the boat and which allows a stable sailing even if the boat is capsized. Furthermore, the water is prevented from entering into the boat, diminishing the buoyancy and increasing the resistance to movement.

According to this invention, a boat cover is provided consisting of a sheet of a flexible and waterproof material watertight fixed along the whole border of the inside of the boat, and inflatable so as to form an upper auxiliary keel.

Said flexible sheet is provided with an inflation valve and when it is not used it will be resting on the internal part of the buoyancyi cylinders and on the bottom grating so as to allow the boat to be used by one or more persons in the conventional way.

Always according to this invention, a rigid shaped stringer is provided destined to be located on the auxiliary keel, in the symmetry plane of the keel itself, in order to serve the function of an element stabilizing the course when the boat travels in capsized position.

In a second embodiment, the boat cover consists of an independent pneumatic element, which is shaped in its lower part according to the shape of the inside recess of the boat, which will be inserted into said recess and inflated in order to form the auxiliary keel.

In a third embodiment said pneumatic element consists of two or more independent sections, defined by cross planes, and according to a further variant said pneumatic body consists of two layers with an air space therebetween, subdivided in several compartments independent from each other, and each of which is provided with an inflating valve.

This invention will be now described with reference to the attached drawings, showing by way of non limitative example one preferred embodiment of the invention itself.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of the boat with its auxiliary keel deflated;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the auxiliary keel inflated;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2; i i I FIG. 4 is a top plane view showing diagrammatically the towing condition;

FIG. 5 shows a boat provided with a second type of auxiliary keel, in sectional view taken along the plane II of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a top plane view of the boat of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view taken along the plane III-III of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows the detail of the lateral shape of the auxiliary keel;

FIG. 9 diagrammatically shows a third embodiment of the pneumatic element, in longitudinal sectional view;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view corresponding to FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11 and 12 show two views similar to FIGS. 9 and 10 showing a further variant.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the numeral reference 1 denotes the tubular floaters, 2 the bottom of the boat, 3 the bow cover, and the associated support.

This invention provides a sheet 5 of a flexible and waterproof material (either rubberized cloth or other suitable material) provided with an inflating valve 6, said sheet being hermetically watertight fixed along the upper part 7 of the floaters 1, along the support 4 of the bow cover, and along the upper edge of the stern plate 8.

When the boat will be used by one or more persons, the sheet 5 is deflated asshown in FIG. 1, and it will be located on the bottom grating of the boat, with no disturbance for the persons on board. If the towing will have to be effected (of course with no person on board) the compressed air will be introduced through the valve 6 until the sheet 5 will be located as in FIGS. 2 and 3 creating thus an auxiliary keel at the top of which a shaped fillet 9 will be located, having an inverted T cross sectional shape, serving the function of a stabilizing element. It is evident that in this condition, in case of capsizing the boat will continue to travel in towed condition, with no deviation.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows the towing arrangement: the reference 10 shows the towing vessel, 11 is the towing rope, and 12 is the boat.

In order to prevent the towing rope 1 1 from winding up around the propeller of the towing vessel 10, if the latter slows down or stops, the boat 12 is provided with a rope 13 at the end of which is anchored an immersed element 14 the drag of which will be sufficient to keep taut the towing rope 11.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second variant of the device. In said figures the numeral 15 denotes the bottom grating and 16 the stern plate.

In this case, a pneumatic independent body element 17 is provided, equipped with an inflating valve 18, shaped in its lower form according to the shape of the inner recess of the boat, and in its upper part with such a form as to form the auxiliary keel.

Before proceeding with the towing, the pneumatic element 17 will be introduced into the boat and inflated. As it is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the shape of the body 17 is such as to mate perfectly to the internal shape of the floaters 1.

The anchoring of the pneumatic body 17 to the boat is embodied by means of the lateral clamps 19 which are fixed to the metal sections 20 fixed to the floaters and by the cross members 21 fixed at 22 to the aforesaid sections. Lengthwise there is the profiled crest 23 fixed at24 to the bow cover 3 and ending by the clamps 25 which are tightened to the stern plate 16. As aforesaid the crest 23 serves the function of a stabilizing element when the boat travels in capsized position.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of this invention. In this case the pneumatic body 17 is made of three independent and separate elements A, B, C each of which is provided with an inflating valve 18.

' FIGS. 11 and 12 shows a further variant. In this case, the pneumatic body 17 is embodied with a double wall forming an air space 26 subdivided in several independent compartments, each of which is provided with an inflating valve.

The pneumatic body will be fixed to the boat in a way quite identical to that described in connection with the FIGS. 5 to 8.

2. A boat cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said flexible sheet is provided with an inflating valve, and when not used it rests on the inner part of the floating tubular members and on the bottom plank, so as to allow the boat to be used by one or more persons in the usual way.

3. A boat cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that when the said sheet is inflated, a shaped rigid stringer will be located in the symmetry plane of the auxiliary keel in order to hold the stability of course during towing.

4. A boat cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at the stern part of the boat a rope is provided, equipped with an immersed drag element, destined to hold taut the towing rope of the boat, when the towing vessel slows down.

5. A boat as claimed in claim 1, characterized in consisting of an independent pneumatic element, shaped in its lower part according to the shape of the inner recess of the boat, said element being inserted into said recess and inflated in order to form the auxiliary keel.

6. A boat cover as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said pneumatic element consists of two or more sections independent from each other, and defined by cross planes.

7. A boat cover as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said pneumatic element consists of two layers defining an air space, subdivided into several independent compartments, each of which is provided with an inflating valve.

8. A boat cover, as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the pneumatic body is fixed to the boat by means of cross members 'fixed to the tubular floaters, and a crest element lengthwise fastened on the auxiliary keel, destined to form a guide element in the navigation in capsized position. 

1. An inflatable boat cover, particularly for pneumAtic boats, characterized in consisting of a sheet of waterproof and flexible material, watertight fixed throughout the edge of the inner recess of the boat, inflatable so as to form an auxiliary upper keel and to prevent the water from entering into the boat recess.
 2. A boat cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said flexible sheet is provided with an inflating valve, and when not used it rests on the inner part of the floating tubular members and on the bottom plank, so as to allow the boat to be used by one or more persons in the usual way.
 3. A boat cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that when the said sheet is inflated, a shaped rigid stringer will be located in the symmetry plane of the auxiliary keel in order to hold the stability of course during towing.
 4. A boat cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at the stern part of the boat a rope is provided, equipped with an immersed drag element, destined to hold taut the towing rope of the boat, when the towing vessel slows down.
 5. A boat as claimed in claim 1, characterized in consisting of an independent pneumatic element, shaped in its lower part according to the shape of the inner recess of the boat, said element being inserted into said recess and inflated in order to form the auxiliary keel.
 6. A boat cover as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said pneumatic element consists of two or more sections indendepent from ach other, and defined by cross planes.
 7. A boat cover as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said pneumatic element consists of two layers defining an air space, subdivided into several independent compartments, each of which is provided with an inflating valve.
 8. A boat cover, as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the pneumatic body is fixed to the boat by means of cross members fixed to the tubular floaters, and a crest element lengthwise fastened on the auxiliary keel, destined to form a guide element in the navigation in capsized position. 